NSE7 Advanced Networking and SD-WAN Practice Question
Which load balancing algorithm in SD-WAN sends new sessions to the member interface with the least number of active sessions?
⚠ Common exam trap
It's easy for candidates to confuse 'Sessions' with 'Volume' because both involve load distribution, but Sessions focuses on connection count while Volume focuses on data throughput, and Fortinet explicitly tests this distinction in the SD-WAN configuration context.
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Sessions
The Sessions algorithm in Fortinet SD-WAN selects the member interface with the fewest active sessions when a new session is initiated. This is the default load-balancing method and ensures even distribution of session counts across WAN links, preventing any single interface from becoming overloaded with connections.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Sessions
Why this is correct
The sessions algorithm selects the SD-WAN member currently holding the fewest active sessions, distributing new sessions to the least-loaded interface. This directly matches the stated requirement of sending new sessions to the member with the lowest active session count.
- ✗
Volume
Why it's wrong here
Volume balances by measured throughput or data volume per member, not by the number of active sessions. It is tempting because it spreads load across interfaces, but least-sessions balancing tracks session counts, which is a different metric.
- ✗
Spillover
Why it's wrong here
Spillover sends new sessions to a member only once the primary interface exceeds a configured threshold, so it reacts to volume, not active session counts. It is tempting as a load distribution method, but least-sessions balancing is a distinct algorithm.
- ✗
Source-dest IP
Why it's wrong here
Source-dest IP hashes each session's address pair to a fixed member, giving session stickiness rather than balancing by current load. It is tempting because it distributes traffic deterministically, but it ignores active session counts entirely.
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